Football has always been a stubbornly tough sport in which to be a gay player.
So the encouraging words of Celtic captain Scott Brown will mean a lot to anyone who still feels unable to come out publicly.
Society has changed overwhelmingly in recent years.
Cruel, discriminatory laws have been ripped up, and public attitudes are dramatically improved.
But homophobia is far from over.
And football is one place where the shameful bigotry still lurks.
It is sad that so many must still feel scared to be themselves in the sport they love.
Brown says a player’s sexuality shouldn’t matter – he’s right.
It’s a damning indictment that a statement so obvious is still being made in 2019.
Players have come out after retirement but it’s still seen as a taboo.
Despite that, Brown suggested there must players in every club who feel they can’t speak up.
It’s clear support is there in the dressing room and on the pitch.
Brown’s comments are welcome – even though they show Scottish football has some catching up to do.
